If you are serious about refining, this is a good read.

[tsfarley]

Thanks for the info. I'll be visiting Reno this week for a Menthol run athe reservations, so will stop to shop. Can I assume they have a store front shop? Google maps didn't show much.
related. I've found that "Pirate shipping" offers lower shipping rates.

 

[4metals]

I do not know if Legend has a store front shop or not, I have always ordered on line. But they do answer their phone so it may be wise to call and ask. Then you can tell us if you like your shopping experience.

 

[VK3NHL]

I do not know if Legend has a store front shop or not, I have always ordered on line. But they do answer their phone so it may be wise to call and ask. Then you can tell us if you like your shopping experience.

US$219.70 shipping to Australia
No thanks I’ll re read Hokes for the 10th time

 

[4metals]

I wonder if it is on loan through university libraries? Since there is so much gold extracted from Australia I would think there are suppliers of dredging and riffle systems. Back in the 1980's I went to Keene engineering to buy a dredge to take to South America. They had a section of books on dredging and refining so maybe the same is available down under. If nothing else it would be a great store to shop in!

 

[tsfarley]

The Legend front office was open today. I stopped and picked up a couple copies of the book. Also picked up a catalog as the web site was down due to hacking. Nice people, very helpful. I'll be back to get more supplies as I learn more as driving here will be cheaper than shipping.

 

[4metals]

Wow, I tried to go to Legend's website Lmine.com and was warned the connection is not secure! Damned hackers!

 

[Emryst]

It is called Small Scale Refining of Jewelers Wastes by Roland Loewen. The book is copyrighted in 1995 so it is not something we can give you here for free but it is definitely worth buying it. You can get it here for $29.60.

I Just found this post and tryed the link that website is down now. Or at least in can't get to it via mobile browser.

 

[Yggdrasil]

Well I have read through Loewen once now.
It gave an impression to be a hybrid between a Refining workshop journal and a book on refining.
Plenty of references to others including Hoke and a more modern approach to
waste and pollution.
Even a small block on e-waste.
Some good tips on constructing a small lab.

Well the next is Bugbee, I will browse that one now.

 

[Yggdrasil]

Just to emphasize, I liked the book.
But I was a bit taken by surprise by the difference between this one and Hokes.

The part where he described why one should wash the Gold with HCl and not water first was a good reminder.

It was much less chemistry oriented and more lab work oriented than Hoke.
Though not without its errors and sometimes a bit light footed in some departments.
I will need to reread this one.

 

[4metals]

I worked with a client in Florida 20 years back who hired a contractor to build all of the equipment that Loewen detailed in his book, hoods, scrubber, incinerator, everything. Then I spent some weeks with them teaching them how to refine using the equipment.

The molten slag mold he described for melting jewelers sweeps worked quite well. We were able to extract >95% of the assayed gold into bullion for direct aqua regia refining. That impressed me. He crushed the remaining slag and recovered another 1-2% of the gold by sifting and the powder was put into drums which he called low grade retirement drums. He has surely cashed them in by now.

 

[Elemental]

Just ordered Small Scale Refining of Jewelers Wastes by Roland Loewen. Looking forward to reading it.

 

[Yggdrasil]

Just ordered Small Scale Refining of Jewelers Wastes by Roland Loewen. Looking forward to reading it.

I can recommend it

 

[galenrog]

Just ordered Small Scale Refining of Jewelers Wastes by Roland Loewen. Looking forward to reading it.

Loewen is an excellent read. I suggest the same thing I suggest for Hoke. Read it. Read it again. Third time through, write down all comments and questions. Bring those questions here for answers and clarification.

Fourth time through, write your own synopsis of each section of the book for future reference. The table of contents is always lacking.

Time for more coffee.

 

[4metals]

As I re-read the book for probably the 4th time, I realized he should have titled the book differently. Something like how to build a functional refinery without spending a lot of money.

Question for members who have read Loewen's book. Was my suggestion of an alternate title correct?

 

[Yggdrasil]

Question for members who have read Loewen's book. Was my suggestion of an alternate title correct?

Yes I concur

 

[FrugalRefiner]

Question for members who have read Loewen's book. Was my suggestion of an alternate title correct?

Absolutely. He provides good guidance on how to build much of what is needed.

Dave

 

[Shark]

Many of my early ideas were from reading Loewens book.

 

[galenrog]

Question for members who have read Loewen's book. Was my suggestion of an alternate title correct?

Agreed

 

[4metals]

Has anyone else used Lowens method of fluxing and melting sweeps and pouring them into his unique mold? A discussion of this here may benefit some of our members?

 

[Yggdrasil]

Has anyone else used Lowens method of fluxing and melting sweeps and pouring them into his unique mold? A discussion of this here may benefit some of our members?

I have not done it, frankly there is one thing he could have improved and that is his illustrations.
I didn't quite wrap my head around some of them and in my copy at least they were too tiny of this mold of his.
The description was better, it is just an angle iron with a movable end is it not?
His slag tester was a bit unclear on the pouring area but the function seemed clear enough.